Senior Risk and Compliance Advisor (Africa Bureau)

Before submitting an application, UNHCR staff members intending to apply to this Job Opening are requested to consult the Recruitment and Assignments Policy (RAP, UNHCR/HCP/2017/2 and the Recruitment and Assignments Administrative Instruction (RAAI), UNHCR/AI/2017/7 OF 15 August 2017.

Senior Risk and Compliance Advisor (Africa Bureau)

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT
The Senior Risk and Compliance Advisor (Africa Bureau) will be based in the Geneva and will head Risk Management and Compliance Unit in the Africa Bureau. S/he will play a principal role in the regional coordination, monitoring and assessment of risk management and compliance for the Africa region. S/he will play a key advisory role to the Bureau Director and coordinate closely with Deputy Directors to design and oversee risk mitigation measures at the regional level, while providing and/or coordinating direct support to Africa Operations. S/he would work in close coordination with the various interlocutors in the Bureau and the field to map emerging risks and, in coordination with the Bureau Director, guide risk-based decision making throughout the region, effectively setting the risk appetite for the region as well as work on addressing compliance issues, i.e. audit finding, etc.

FUNCTIONAL STATEMENT
Accountability
- Systems, structures, procedures and capabilities relating to risk management and compliance are assessed, coordinated and monitored in the Africa region.
- Risk mitigation measures are designed and implemented at the regional level in the Africa region.
- UNHCR operational programmes, systems of financial, administrative and resource management have integrity at the country and regional level in the area of responsibility.

Responsibility
- Support the development of a risk management culture in the organization and promote this in Africa Operations. Specifically, support the Senior Risk Management and Compliance Advisors deployed in Africa Operations by contributing as needed to their initiatives and collecting lessons learned and ensuring they are documented and shared throughout the Region.
- Maintain an effective compliance program, including (a) supporting compliance focal points in the Africa Operations; (b) heightening awareness of standards of conduct, and (c) promoting understanding of new and existing compliance issues and related policies/procedures as an important tool for enhancing the quality of management and for ensuring accountability;
- Ensure compliance mission plan is mapped for the Region on a quarterly basis in close coordination with the RMCOs with input from Deputy Directors. This should identify high risk Operations as well as high risk cross-cutting themes to address (i.e. Procurement, Partnerships, PSEA/SHA, data management, etc.). 
- Ensure that oversight findings and root causes of non-compliance are documented, analysed, addressed where possible, and fed into the risk management process.
- Support the formulation of region/country risk management strategy, specifically, to identify and then propose actions for mitigating operational, management and financial risks, ensuring coherency in our approach to the extent possible, while still tailoring responses to operational realities.
- In coordination with Desks, ensure that Risk Registers in the region accurately reflect their operational context. Undertake regular reviews and provide feedback in consultations with the Desks and ERM unit.
- Lead the annual Risk Review exercise for the Bureau and encourage Deputies and Heads of Unit to incorporate a risk-based approach to their work. Develop a mechanism to follow-up regularly on proposed risk treatments throughout the year.
- Ensure that a mutually agreed coordination and consultation mechanism is put into place between the Bureau and the ERM Unit
- Ensure that in Operations in the Africa Regions that senior management is taking active steps to encourage ethical decision making and values based behaviour, while sending clear messages regarding unacceptable behaviours. Ensure Operations carry out Code of Conduct refreshers, while also supporting Operations to ensure that these values are reflected in daily operations and the activity is not a one-off tick box exercise. Evaluate needs for additional training or capacity building around code of conduct themes to promote overall integrity.
- Review, provide input and clear compliance mission TORs ensuring that the reports are capturing key issues and regional trends. Incorporate contextual input from Desks as needed.
- Contribute to improving procedures that improve compliance, or effectively manage exceptions, particularly with policies and procedures related to high risk areas, and to improve corresponding management tools. Ensure that lessons learned and good practices are documented and disseminated within Africa region or broader.
- Identify potential areas of compliance vulnerability and risk; develops/implements corrective action plans for resolution of problematic issues, and provides general guidance on how to avoid or treat similar situations in the future.
- Ensure that when root causes of risks or failures are linked to policies at the organizational level that this information is captured and feedback provided into the Headquarters policy pipeline in a constructive manner.
- Extract lessons learned from oversight assignments (OIOS, IGO reports, etc.), formulate conclusions/recommendations that have a wider regional relevance, and assist in disseminating them.
- Provide ad hoc or specific reports as requested to the Director at regional or country level, including analysis reports and status reports on follow-up/compliance.
- Respond to alleged violations of rules, regulations, policies, procedures, and standards of conduct by reviewing or proposing initiation of investigative procedures. Propose to the Director establishment of/changes in the procedures in handling such violations and ensure uniform application throughout operations in the region.
- Assist in the responding to audit related queries, addressing the audit findings and closing audit recommendations and any other compliance related matters.

Authority
- In coordination with relevant bodies, initiate sanctions for non-compliance at the country-level to UN/UNHCR¿s policies, rules and procedures.
- Enforce country-level compliance with UNHCR¿s polices, rules and regulations.

ESSENTIAL MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
- Graduate degree (equivalent of a Master¿s) plus minimum 11 years of previous work experience relevant to the function. Undergraduate degree (equivalent of a BA/BS) plus 12 years or Doctorate degree (equivalent of a PhD) plus 10 years of previous relevant work experience may also be accepted.
- At least 6 years of experience in a senior managerial/leadership position involving, amongst other things, responsibilities relating to risk management, compliance and/or quality of results.
- Exposure to and experience in UN or humanitarian field operations and emergencies in various geographical locations.
- Strong analytical abilities and strategic vision.
- Strong leadership skills with significant managerial experience, excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
- Ability to work across multiple functional areas and have demonstrated ability to achieve the buy-in of varied stakeholders.
- Ability to plan and see through initiatives and address complex problems with multiple causalities.
- Impeccable integrity and commitment to UNHCR¿s values, setting the tone for a culture of accountability and strict adherence to the UNHCR Code of Conduct.
- Fluency in English, both orally and in writing, including excellent drafting skills in English.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES
- In-depth knowledge of UNHCR policies and procedures. Experience in diverse functional areas highly valued.
- General specific learning/training in the fields of risk and programme management. 
- Knowledge of French. C001L4 - Accountability Level 4
C002L4 - Teamwork & Collaboration Level 4
C003L4 - Communication Level 4
C004L4 - Commitment to Continuous Learning Level 4
C005L4 - Client & Result Orientation Level 4
C006L4 - Organizational Awareness Level 4
M001L4 - Empowering and Building Trust Level 4
M005L4 - Leadership Level 4
M004L4 - Strategic Planning and Vision Level 4
M003L4 - Judgement and Decision Making Level 4
X001L4 - Analytical Thinking Level 4
X006L4 - Policy Development & Research Level 4
X008L4 - Stakeholder Management Level 4 <p>The UNHCR workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages and opinions. UNHCR seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. Applications are encouraged from all qualified candidates without distinction on grounds of race, colour, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity.</p>
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See below for this postion's Operational Context
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For those people applying for High Risk Duty Stations, we strongly encourage colleagues to read the country specific security and welfare profiles which can be found on the Intranet under Support Services - Duty of Care (https://intranet.unhcr.org/en/support-services/duty-of-care.html). These profiles have been specifically designed to answer some of the key questions (on security conditions, medical provisions, staff welfare, living and working conditions) potential applicants might have before deciding to apply. Ensuring staff are better informed is part of the increased attention UNHCR is paying to Duty of Care. This project is still in the pilot phase, and as such some of the information leaflets are being produced as we speak and might not be available yet. They will be soon, so keep checking. 

The Senior Risk and Compliance Advisor will report directly to the Director, Regional Bureau for Africa. The Senior Risk and Compliance Advisor needs to have the requisite financial, audit, risk and oversight background and knowledge of UN Financial Rules and Regulations as well as UNHCR Operations management. S/he will have primary responsibility for coordinating the preparation, planning, organization and follow-up and coordination of risk management, oversight assignments, audit responses and compliance matters. S/he will advise Senior Management on the status of compliance with financial, administrative and resource rules and regulations, policies and procedures, and engage directly in the resolution of any issues, weaknesses or gaps/accountability identified, at the Operations, including follow-up on the recommendations of various oversight/audit reports as well as emerging risks in the region.
It should be noted Africa covers 33 operations in more than 40 countries in the region. Africa has more than 600 partnership agreements (about 17% failed the audit); numerous outstanding OIOS recommendations (about 60% is in Africa many of which are critical); recent fraud cases and procurement gaps.  In this respect, it is important that s/he would need to institute a systematic and strong oversight in coordination with the Bureau and country offices to follow-up remedial measures to resolve the compliance and audit recommendations as well as mitigate risks and guide risk-based decision making in the region.
In addition, the incumbent must be able to communicate clearly and effectively; orally and in writing, and have the ability to establish an enabling working environment (openness, ease in building rapport with all stakeholders). UNHCR has adopted a formal risk management system in 2014. The progress made by the organization in institutionalizing risk management in a light form has been acknowledged both internally and externally. At the same time, an organization-wide ¿Risk Management 2.0¿ initiative was launched to further strengthen risk management, in increasingly complex operating environments.
In this process, key operational risks that affect delivery and impact will be reviewed with particular attention being paid to risks of fraud, corruption, terrorism, money laundering and sexual exploitation and abuse of refugees as well as harassment among team members.
The position is based in Headquarters covering the Africa region. In this respect, it is essential that s/he would need to travel on missions to the field to assist the operations on the risk management and compliance issues at times on short notice.  Often, some of the locations are based in inaccessible and insecure areas of high risk operations, and therefore, s/he should not have any constraints in traveling to these places to effectively carry out the work.
As Africa also covers Francophone countries, it would be desirable for the person to possess French language skills.  However, it is a must that the person has proficient and excellent command of English to draft a report, to provide audit response and analysis report to the senior management as well as communicate with various interlocutors effectively. As stated above, the position is based in Geneva, Headquarters. However, with the ongoing restructuring at Headquarters on regionalization and decentralization, there is a possibility that this position may be out-posted to the field in the course of 2019. The location of this post is yet to be decided as we are waiting for a decision at headquarters.
It should be noted that this there may be irregular workload spikes due to fluctuations of work intensity depending on the phase of the operations management cycle. As mentioned above, even though the position is based in Geneva, s/he is expected to travel on missions to remote locations in the field, where the quality of life and working conditions would be challenged alongside with security concerns. 1. Knowledge of, and familiarity with, the Africa operations and its range of challenges and issues from the political and the humanitarian perspectives.
2. Relevant UN or humanitarian work experiences are essential in assuming the job with a minimum lead time.
3. Strong organizational and political awareness as well as excellent judgment, negotiation, and coordination skills.
4. Strong networking, external relations and communication skills with a dynamic and proactive disposition.
5. Be articulate and engaging with an aptitude for speaking in public as well as excellent drafting skills in relation to complex issues in English. French is desirable.
6. Established aptitudes with matching interpersonal, team management and coordination skills. Dynamism is a definite asset.
7. Advanced University degree (Master¿s degree or equivalent) in business administration, finance, accounting or related field.
8. Personal organization, analytical and planning skills, and ability to work under pressure to meet tight deadlines.

Please note that the closing date for all vacancies in the Add.4 to March 2018 Compendium is Wednesday 5 Septembe 2018 (midnight Geneva time).